Is 'next Friday' the same as 'following Friday'?

Not quite the same thing, but very close. Next Friday means the following Friday from the moment when the speaker or writer is speaking or writing. An analogy is found in the difference between "tomorrow" and "the next day. read more

Next Friday means the following Friday from the moment when the speaker or writer is speaking or writing. An analogy is found in the difference between"tomorrow" and"the next day." Generally, English speakers don't use"next Friday" to mean"tomorrow," and there can be a moment of slight confusion if someone uses this expression (speaking on a Wednesday) in place of"the day after tomorrow". read more

By the same token, if I were talking about the Friday seven days after that, I'd call it Friday week on the above Saturday and Sunday, reverting to"next Friday* afterwards. Except that by Wednesday or Thursday I might revert to calling the later one Friday week, if I was talking to a Canadian.. read more